Matosinhos becomes the first UN Resilience Hub in Portugal
The city joins the Province of Potenza (Italy) as the newest role models for the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative
Of the top 20 cities in the world, 15 are European
On 21 November 2019, the first-ever Prosperity & Inclusion City Seal and Award (PICSA) were bestowed to 20 cities from across the world. The winners were chosen based on the PICSA Index Report which reflects three distinct spheres of urban development – Prosperity (GDP per capita and quality of life of citizens), Social Inclusion (safety, education and internet access) and Spatial Inclusion (housing, environmental quality and access to healthcare).
Explaining the PICSA index and its many facts, PICSA Index co-founder Bruno Lanvin, stated that “With the PICSA index, for the first time, cities were measured not only based on income but on three pillars that create an overall picture of inclusivity. Through their work on prosperity, social inclusion and spatial inclusion, the cities that ranked on the top of the index have demonstrated world-leading projects and policies that have created inclusive urban centres for all their citizens.”.
The award ceremony was held in Bilbao, Spain, and was attended by over 100 city leaders, experts on urban development and other dignitaries. Together they also discussed the importance of cities in fighting inequalities, climate change and their roles as drivers for economic prosperity.
Based on the PICSA index, the top city for social inclusion and prosperity is Zurich, Switzerland followed closely by Vienna, Austria and in 3rd place Copenhagen, Denmark. Citizens of these three cities are more likely to have a higher quality of life and better access to vital services – in general, they are those who are most well looked after by their respective local governments.
And here is the full list of top 20 winners:
It is evident that cities in the EU and in Europe as a whole are by far the most dominant group on the list – but that does not mean that there isn’t more work to be done. Other EU municipalities could also learn much from the example set out by the frontrunners like Vienna and Copenhagen.
Peace and quiet in Baroque surroundings
The mayor of Stanz im Mürztal is building a renewable energy cooperative and it comes with a whole new economic model
The focus will be on solidarity, sustainability and green development, as well as on social development and security in the city
The Irish Environment Protection Agency released an updated map of affected regions in the country
The story of Dortmund’s 2011 Science City Masterplan and how it grew in the new decade
The Portuguese city is one of the participants in this exciting global initiative
It involves strategically placed pictograms on the pedestrian crossings
Never too early to fall in love with soft mobility
100 trees will take the place of 100 parking spaces in this Belgian town
It involves strategically placed pictograms on the pedestrian crossings
The Irish Environment Protection Agency released an updated map of affected regions in the country
Never too early to fall in love with soft mobility
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
An interview about AYR, one of the 2021 New European Bauhaus Prize winners
An interview with Nigel Jollands and Sue Goeransson from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
An interview with the President of the City of Athens Reception & Solidarity Centre
A talk with the Mayor of Malmö on the occasion of the city’s UN Resilience Hub status